There are a huge number of benefits to using rubber matting in stables, which is why it is becoming almost universal in livery yards and private stables. Below we have listed just some of the main benefits that rubber matting has to offer for you and your horse.
Effective Insulation
You know that horrible feeling of bare feet on cold tiles? Now imagine how cold the concrete in your horse’s stable gets in the depts of winter.
Unfortunately, even if you provided the biggest fluffiest bed, without rubber matting your horse will still feel the cold chill of the concrete.
Using rubber matting will not only provide great comfort to your horse when they lie in their bed, but you will be amazed how much it will insulate the entire stable.
For even more warmth you can also attach rubber matting to the sides of your stables as it acts as further insulation. This is also a good method of preventing injury... your horse is going to want to roll around in its now cosy bed and you don’t want a hoof to go through the stable wall.
Furthermore, by insulating the stable with a layer of rubber matting to make it warm and comfortable, your horse will be far less susceptible to sickness during the winter months.
Provides Cushioning and Reduces Risk of Injury
Horses can easily slip, especially on smooth surfaces such as concrete. Rubber matting offers non-slip protection – a far safer footing for your horse, with a similar grip quality to that of natural ground.
Rubber matting is also an extremely effective material for absorbing shock, so it is therefore very kind on your horse’s joints. The matting gently gives to the shape of your horse’s hooves, absorbing the strain of standing all day and offers your horse the comfort of a soft surface to stand on. This is particularly advantages if your horse is prone to pawing as this behaviour can be very problematic to your horses’ joints on concrete.
Rubber matting also reduces the risk of your horse pawing through its bedding to expose the concrete. Particularly when horses have traditional beddings such straw that can easily be dismantled by pawing or box walking, rubber matting avoids the exposure of concrete by completely covering the floor which can protect your horse’s joints from injury.
Improved Levels of Comfort
As mentioned before, rubber matting is shock absorbent making it kinder to both stand and lie on. Therefore, rubber matting offers a significant amount of extra comfort
Your horse will be able to stand or sit on rubber matting, without becoming uncomfortable.
What is more, a straw bedding may look dry, but it can often conceal a high level of moisture. Rubber matting has drainage channels that are specifically designed to channel water out of the stable and therefore provides a drier environment for your horse.
Your horse will be able to stand or sit on rubber matting, without becoming uncomfortable, cold OR damp which will greatly help to reduce chance sickness.
Reduced Odour in the Stables
Who doesn’t like protection against foul odours? Especially in stables! Typically, with traditional bedding such as straw and wood-shavings, odour can cling to it creating a lingering smell that is unpleasant for all. Rubber matting, in comparison, allows for effective drainage and greatly reduces odours.
Effective draining and reducing the amount of moisture being trapped in bedding and other areas of the stable is a huge factor as to why rubber matting reduces odours in the stable.
To ensure that your stables remain odour free, clean out the underside of your stable mats at least two or three times a year to ensure good upkeep of hygiene. Rubber matting is an excellent alternative to layers upon layers of traditional bedding that is not only changed daily but can also become quite costly.
Easy to Keep Dry and Clean
Rubber matting is water-resistant and specifically designed to allowing for a drier environment for your horse. Even if your horse gets drenched in the field and returns to the stable a wet muddy mess, your rubber matting can be easily cleaned and it can dry surprisingly quickly…..unlike your horse.
Save Money on Bedding Plus Save Time on Mucking Out
Everyone loves a win-win – and with rubber matting you save money AND time. Without rubber matting horses will require a significantly greater amount of bedding – be that shavings, straw, woodchips etc.
As rubber matting provides extra warmth and comfort you can get away with using less bedding. This means you will immediately see savings on your weekly bedding bill. With the price of bedding on the rise, this can be considered a massive win.
With reduced bedding you will also reduce the laborious task of sifting through a deep bed – so mucking out just got quicker. And for days you want to do a thorough clean, you can easily hose, or even power wash your stable without the result of standing water or the risk of a dangerous icy surface in winter. Rubber matting is a serious time saver and can significantly lighten your workload.
Improve the Happiness and Health of Your Horse
By purchasing rubber matting, you will be improving the health of your horse dramatically. Rubber matting offers a far softer surface for your horse which will be a welcome relief after an active day that puts stresses and strains on your horses joins. In fact, it is known that rubber matting can speed up the healing process of injured horses as it is a far more forgiving and surface than concrete and it provides a much higher level of comfort.
As mentioned above, by using rubber matting you are able to use less bedding. Another benefit of this, besides saving money, is that there will be a reduced amount of dust in the stable. Traditional bedding, particularly straw, can create a lot of dust. Reducing this will reduce the likelihood of respiratory diseases. This is especially beneficial for horses that are prone to allergies or dust sensitivities.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing Rubber Matting
Something that always rings true is – ‘buy cheap, buy twice’. So, when you are looking to buy rubber matting, instead of looking for the cheapest, thinnest stuff, we recommend choosing thicker, better-quality matting as it will have far more longevity and the better insulator it will be.
As are many things in the marketplace today, rubber matting can be hard to get hold of. However, at Farm & Stable, we make sure essentials are always available – as soon as we know there is a shortage in the market, we try to ensure that we bring in volumes of the product.
We have just secured a large volume of ComfortStall. This matting is excellent quality matting (16mm) and perfect for all stable settings. Our matting has bobbled textured surface for greater grip and insulation as well as deep channels underneath for efficient drainage.
Finally, we recommended to fully remove the rubber matting from the stable 2-3 times a year to fully disinfect the mats to ensure good stable hygiene. Steri-7 Xtra Concentrate is an excellent product to use to disinfect your rubber matting and stable areas. It not only disinfects but gets rid of most pathogens & viruses. Steri-7 can be used as a spray or fogging. By treating the area required (and not rinsing) you will also have your stable area protected by a Steri-7's 14 Day Reactive Barrier Technology.
Please be aware that some disinfectants and reduce the life of your rubber mats by making them brittle. This is why we recommend using Steri-7, a widely used and trusted disinfectant.
Key Take Aways
Every horse owner wants to keep their horse as healthy and happy as possible - using rubber matting is a great way to achieve this as it improves their welfare in the stable. This is why so many people think that rubber mats are a must-have product if you own horses.
